Switch attachment for electric irons



C. H. HELLING.

SWITCH ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC IRONS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 1919.

1,342,905. v Patented June 8, 1920.

IIIIIIIIIII lllll l l ATTORN EYS UNITED STATES PATENT oFF1cE.

kCHARLES H. HELLING, OF'OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO GEORGE C. LESTER, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SWITCH ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC IRONS.

Specification/of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 8, 1920.

Application tiled April 3, 1919. Serial No. 287,101.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, CHARLES ll. HELLrNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at UakIand, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Switch Attachments for Electric lrons, of which the lollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic switch attachment for elect-ric irons.

@ne of the objects' of the, present invention is to provide a simple, easily operated switch attachment tor electric irons which is capable both 'of automatic and manual operation and in which the switch may be locked in the (imposition when the iron is stood on end. Y u

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel connection betwen the terminals of the heating element employed and the terminals or the switch.

lTurther objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention is further illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation ot an electric iron partly in section, showing the application ci the invention.

lclfig.. 2 is a side elevation of the iron showing it up-ended with the switch in an open position.

3 is a iront View ofthe socket sup porting the switch, said View being partly in section. g

- 'g. l: a rear View oil the socket.

is a central and Vertical section oi i 6 is a detailed sectional view et the contact end of the switch leveru Referring to the drawings in detail, A

indicates the body portion olf a standard `orm oi electric iron; 2, the base; 3, the handle; and ll, the socket in which the plug 5 is inserted when it is desired to employ the iron. Mounted interior ol the body portion ci the iron, adjacent .the inner lace of the base plate 2 is -a heating element ci suitable construction. This element is not shown in the present instance as it does not form any part el the invention. ylhe terminals of said element are connected with plu terl minals such as shown at 6 and 7, seel ig. 5.

rThese plug terminals are mounted within the socket el and a -circuit through the same is established in -a manner hereinafter to b e described. rlhe plug 5 employed consists of a yoke-shaped member 8, which carries an insulating member 9. 'llhe cord through which the current is supplied 9 of the plug. The insulating member 9 isloosely mounted within the yoke but is forced tightly down into the socket l when inserted as the yoke 8 is' forced downwardly until it is permitted to' straddle a pair of pins 13, secured one on each side ot the socket l., To permit the lower ends of the yoke lto engage' said pins, slots 14: are formed. rl`hese slots are elongated, as shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 5, and to prevent disengagement of the yoke with relation to the pins 13, head members 15 are provided. The heads of the pins proper may be turned into alinement with the slots 111 when the yoke is applied and then turned crosswise of the slots, as shown in Fig. 2, to prevent accidental removal of the yoke.

Attached to the terminal member 12, se-

'They are also placed under compression as they engage the base portions of the yplugs t and 7, thereby insuring a perfect contact as the springs do not only engage the base portions of the teigminals with considerable pressure but they also engage the sides ot' the extended portions ot" the plugs.

For the purpose of making or breaking a circuit through the heating element, l employ a pair of spring contacts 19 and 20. @ne contact is connected with a terminal 11 while the other contact is connected with the terminal 17. A circuit established between the contacts 19 and 20 permits the current to pass from the terminal member 11 through the contacts 19 and 20, then to pass through the terminals 17, coil 18, and plug 6. 'lhe current will here pass through the heating element, then out through the 0pposite terminal 7 then pa-ssesthroughrthe coil 16 and terminal 12,' thus completing the circuit. For the purpose of making or breaking a circuit between thecontacts 19 ilo" lll

'and 20, l employ a switch lever 21.

lever is pivotally mounted as at 22, in a This plate 23, secured to the front `-`face of the insulating member 9 by means oi a screw 24.

Formed on the inner end of 'the lever 21 and adapted to pass between the contacts 19 and 20 is a segment 25. The handle 21 and the segment 25 are constructed of insulating material and will therefore at all times Y the upper end ot the segment 25 with a metal contact piece 2'6. This member passes between the spring contacts 19 and 20 when the handle 21 is moved into the horizontal dotted line position shown at 21a, in Fig. 1, and this is only accomplished by manual operation on the part oi the operator employing 'or using the iron. ln other Words, the circuit through the iron is at all times lorolren `roy means ot the switch lever 2 1 unless it is manually raised up against the handle d by the operator, Which is accomplished by merely grasping the lever 21 in unison with vthe handle 3 and pulling the lever 21 upwardly until it lies flush with the handle. This position ci" the lever 21 lorings the metal Contact member 26 in position between the spring contacts 19 and 20 and .thusaestablishes a circuitthrough the heating element Within the iron Whenever desired. y

ln actual operation, if the iron is cold and it isdesired to heat the same to proper temperature before the iron is to be used, it is only necessary to stand it onend, as shown in Figf2 and to pull the lever 21 np against the handle 3 or to the dotted line position shown at 21a in Figs. 1 and 2. The lever 21 is here automatically locked by ineens ci a Weighted latch 26 `which is pivotally mounted, as at 27, at the outer end of the lever. This latch engages a keeper plate 28 secured in a longitudinallyI disposed. groove 29 formed on the lower side ol the handle 3. This groove also contains a leal spring 30 which is secured at one end loy means ot the keeper plate 28 While its opposite end engages the switch lever 21. This spring-therefore normally serves the function oi' depressing the switch lever and consequently breaking the circuit throughthe plug and the heating element vand it will always maintain the switch lever in the depressed position unless it is. manually raised hy the operator employing the iron or loclred hy means of the latch 26'., 'The operation oit the switch is therefore, to a certain extent, automatic Wheniironing; to the extent that whenever the iron is being employed, the-operator grasps the lever 21 and the handle 3 in unison, thereby 'raising the lever 21 to a position where the circuit is closed. The circuit is therefore on as long as the iron is being employed but it is instantly broken the moment the iron is released as the Weighted latch 26 will not engage Vthe keeper when the iron is in a horizontal position. The operator can therefore leave the iron Whenever desired, With-l out any danger of burning or scorching the clothes or overheating the iron as the cir cuit through the same is instantly broken the moment the handle 3 is released. The circuit may, however, loe maintained, ii" desired, by placing the iron on end, as shown in ll 2, and by locking the switch lever by means oli the latch 26. The weight carried by the latch 26 insures engagement ot the latch With the liceper when the iron is upended and it also prevents engagement With the lreeper when the iron assumes its normal horizontal position. lt thereby acts asa safety device which positively prevents overheating ci the iron or a constant circuit through the same' When it assumes a horizontal. position.

` An iron equipped with a switch mechanism, suchas here shown, has ,many advantages When compared with ordinary electric irons as it saves, first, by saving current when ironing as the current is automatically turned oil when the iron is released; second, accidental lires are prevented or the same reason; third, the iron is more coni/lenient to handle and operate as it is not necessary to pull out the plug iii the ironDbecomes too hot or to re-insert the same Vit the iron loecomes too cold; fourth,

by eliminating the necessity oi" constantly removing or inserting the plug it prevents wearing away ot the contacts and the electric cord passing `through the same, thus eliminating short circuits and hre "dangers resulting therefrom; lilith, the switch lever is always positioned directly under the handle and is only pulled up against the handle when the iron is used or when required; sixth, the switch lever can only be lett on at Will when the iron is 11p-ended hut in no other position and will automatically release itself il the iron over-turned or assumes a horizontal position, due to the fact .that the Weighted latch member 26 will re- Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl l. The combination with a handle of an electric iron, and a switch on the iron, of a lever pivotall-y mounted in the switch adapted to makeor break a circuit through: the switch, a spring interposed between the ed to make or break a circuit through the switch,a spring interposed between the handle and the lever adapted to normally hold f tion.

the lever in a position where the circuit through the switch is broken, and a latch for locking the lever with relation to the handle when the circuit through the switch is closed, said latch being only operable when the iron is placedl on end, and said latch adapted to automaticallyrelease itself when the iron assumes a horizontal posi- 3. The combination with a handle ot an electric iron, and a switch on the iron, of a lever pivotally lmounted in the switch adapted to make or break a circuit through 'the switch, a spring interposed between the handle and the lever adapted to normally hold the lever in a position where the circuit throughthe switch is broken, a latch pivotally mounted on the outer end of the lever, a keeper in the handle with which the latch is adapted to engage to lock the lever when the switch is in a closed position, said latch being 'weighted and being only operable to lock the` lever when the iron is placed on end, saidlatch automatically releasing itself when the ironv assumes a horizontal position.

y l, The combination with the handle of an electric iron and a socket mounted at one end thereof, of a plug adapted to be inserted in the socket, a lever pivotally'mounted in the plug and adaptedto make or break the circuit therethrough, a spring interposed between the handle and the lever, adapted to normally depress the lever to position when the circuit through the plug is broken, and

means for locking the lever with' relation to the handle so as to close the circuit through the plug. v

5. Thef combination with -the handle of an electric iron and a socket mounted at one end thereof, of a, plug adapted to be inserted in the socket, a lever pivotally mounted in the plug and adapted to make or break the circuit therethrough, a spring interposed between the handle and the lever, adapted to normally depress the lever to position when the circuit through the plug is broken,

and means for locking the lever with relation tof the handle so as to close the circuit `through the plug, said means comprising a latch pivotally mounted in the louter endof the lever, and a keeper in the handle, said latch being weighted and being only operable to lock the lever when the iron is placed on end, said latch adapted to automatically release itself when the iron assumes a horizontal position.

6. The combination with an electric iron and the heating element mounted therein, of a socket member mounted on the iron having a pair of terminal members mounted therein, connected with the heating element, a plug member insertible in the socket, adapted to establish a circuit through the heating element, and 'a switch lever proiecting from the plug for making orbreaking a circuit therethrough.

7. The combination with an electric iron and the heating element mounted therein, of a socket member mounted on the iron having a pair or' terminal members mounted therein, connected with the heating element, a plug member .insertible in the socket, adapted to establish a circuit through the heating element, a switch lever projecting from the plug for making or breaking a circuit therethrough, and means for locking the switch lever in closed position, said means being only operable when the iron is placed on end and said means adapted to autov matically release the lever when the iron assumes a 'horizontal position.

' 8. rlfhe combination with an electric iron and the heating element mounted therein, ci a socket member mounted on the iron having a pair of terminal members mounted therein, connected with the heatingelement,a plug member insertible in the socket, adapted to establish a circuit through the'heating element,'a switch lever pivotally attached to the plug, and means on said lever lor making or breaking the circuit through the plugo 9. The combination with an electric iron and the heating element mounted therein,

of a socket member mounted on the iron having 'a pair of terminal members mounted therein, connected with the heating element, a plug member insertible in the socket, adapted to establish a circuit through the heating element, a switch lever pivotally attached to the plug, means carried by said lever for making through the plug, said lever adapted to be .manually operated to close the circuit and automatically actuated when released, to break thel circuit.

or breaking a s circuit 10. The combination with an electric iron and the heating element mounted therein, ci a socket member mounted on the iron having a pair of terminal members mounted therein, connected with the heating element, a plug member insertible in the socket, adaptedv to establish a circuit through the heating element, a switch lever pivotally attached to the plug, means carried by said lever for making or breaking a circuit through Jthe plug, said lever adapted to be -manually operated to close the circuit and auto' matically actuated when released, to break the'circuit, and means for locking the lever when the circuit is closed, said means being only operable when the iron is placed on end and said means adapted to automatically release the lever and brealr the circuit it the iron assumes a horizontal position,

ll. The'` combination with an electric iron and the heating elementJ mounted therein, oli a socket member mounted on the iron having a pair of terminal members mounted therein, connected with the heating element, a plug member insertible in the soclret adapted to establislo a circuit through the heating element, a svvitch lever pivotally attached to the plug, means on said lever tor malring or breaking the circuit through the plug, a handle on the iron, a spring secured to said handle, engageable with the switch lever to normally hold it in a position such that the circuit vvillbe broken and necessitating rais-y ing ot the switch lever up under the handle to insure a circuit 'through the iron.

Y l2. The combination With an electric iron and the heating element mounted therein, of a soclret member mounted on the iron having a pair of terminal members mounted therein, connected with the heating element, a plug member. insertible in the socket, adapted to establish a circuit through the heating element, a switch lever pivotallg7 aft-- tachefl to the plug, means on said lever 'for making or breaking the circuit 'through the plug, a handle on the iron, a spring secured to said handle, engageable with the switch lever to normally hold it in a position such that the circuit will be breken and necessitating raising o: the svvitcli lever up under c `maticallj; release the lever il the is moved to. horizontal position,

ln testimony 1Wloereml l have hereunto my hand in the presence ol a subscribing vvitnesa cuantas ri ll/l7itneesz g annu lht, flemme, 

